'I've got focus on what I can do, not what I can't'

12:24 AM,
Sep. 18, 2013

ABOVE: William Chavez enjoys a laugh with his brother Martin. TOP: The Chavez family from left, Joaquin, Karen, Martin and William, with FSU Dance Marathon friends, Margaret Reeger and Alex Gardels. The four men on the left are FSU lacrosse players, from left, Ricky Rochester, Will Goodman, Andrew Kiggin, and Nick Papagikos.

Written by

Karl Etters
Democrat staff writer

William Chavez is all smiles these days, but he's always been like that.

The 9-year-old had open-heart surgery at 27 months and was fine for the next six years until December when he again underwent open-heart surgery for complications from Scimitar Syndrome, which he was diagnosed with at 11-months-old.

"His life is different now than it was before December," said his mother Karen Chavez. Before, the difference between William and other kids was unnoticeable, she said, but now he gets short of breath quicker. ...